A festive time: State Patrol makes 713 DUI arrests in King

The Washington State Patrol says it has made 713 arrests for DUI in King County since Thanksgiving week, including 256 from holiday emphasis patrols. Some arrests are still being counted.

The good news is that there were no alcohol-related traffic deaths.

The emphasis patrols — seven troopers and one sergeant who patrolled the county at night — worked with several other police agencies as part of what was called the X-52 DUI patrols.

The patrol counted one alcohol-related accident with serious injuries. The patrol said that occurred Dec. 15 when a repeat DUI offender crossed the center median on eastbound Interstate 90 at Preston and hit a westbound motorist head on. Both drivers remain in the hospital.